Apparatus and method of packaging an electrophotographic image forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method of packaging an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a keeping part to keep an image forming unit disposed in the image forming apparatus, external cushion members to wrap the image forming apparatus, and an external packaging box to package the image forming apparatus wrapped by the external cushion members. When the image forming apparatus is placed on the market, the image forming unit is packaged by a sealing bag and a plurality of internal cushion elements, and is then kept in the image forming apparatus. As a result, it is possible to protect the image forming unit from external impact and to reduce a size of the packaged image forming apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.2004-33627, filed on May 12, 2004, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept relates to an apparatus and methodof packaging an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which formsan image using an electrophotographic process.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, such as alaser printer or a copier, is provided with an image forming unit, whichforms a desired image on a surface thereof using processes including,for example, exposure, development, etc., according to an input imagesignal. Specifically, the image forming unit supplies a portion exposedby a laser beam with a developer, such as a toner, thereby converting anelectrostatic latent image created by the exposure into a visible image,so that the desired image is formed on the surface thereof. The imageforming unit includes a photosensitive body on which the electrostaticlatent image is formed by the exposure and a developer supplier whichsupplies the developer onto the photosensitive body.

The developer for the image forming unit is consumable, such as ink usedin an inkjet printer, and is consumed by image forming operationsrepeated a certain number of times. Thus, after the image formingoperations are repeated the certain number of times, the developer mustbe re-filled. This re-filling is not only difficult but alsoconsiderably impractical. For this reason, most middle-size andsmall-size image forming apparatuses used in business offices,households, etc., are constructed so that the image forming unitcontaining the developer therein can be replaced as a whole. Hence, whenthe image forming apparatus is placed on the market, the image formingunit, being a replaceable part, is packaged independently of a main bodyof the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventionalelectrophotographic image forming apparatus packaged by a conventionalpackaging apparatus.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, when being placed on the market for the firsttime, the conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50 ismulti-packaged by the conventional packaging apparatus. Specifically,the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50 is packaged in aconventional manner such that a main body 10 is enclosed by internalcushion members 41 and 44, and then inserted into an external packagingbox 60. One of the internal cushion members 41 and 44 that is positionedover the main body 10 is provided with an accessory reservoir 42 and animage forming unit container 43, each of which is a certain size. Thus,when the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50 is packaged,various kinds of accessories 30 including a power cable 32, aninstallation guide/manual 34, etc. are loaded into the accessoryreservoir 42 by a user. The image forming unit 20, which is sealed witha vinyl bag 23, is separately loaded into the image forming unitcontainer 43. In this manner, the electrophotographic image formingapparatus 50 is multi-packaged by the conventional packaging apparatussuch that the image forming unit 20 is packaged independently of themain body 10 and the packaged electrophotographic image formingapparatus 50 is then placed on the market.

However, the conventional apparatus and method for packaging theelectrophotographic image forming apparatus 50 has several problems.According to the conventional apparatus and method for packaging theelectrophotographic image forming apparatus 50, since the image formingunit 20 is separately packaged over the main body 10, a height of theexternal packaging box 60 that covers the image forming unit 20 and themain body 10 is increased by a height (“H” of FIG. 1) of the imageforming unit 20. Thus, there may be problems caused by separatelypackaging the image forming unit 20. First, the external packaging box60 and the internal cushion members 41 and 44 require more packagingexpenses in proportion to the increase in height H of the packagedelectrophotographic image forming apparatus 50. Second, transportationexpense of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50 isincreased due to an increase in size of the external packaging box 60used to transport the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50.Third, it may be difficult to handle the packaged electrophotographicimage forming apparatus 50. Further, according to the conventionalapparatus and method for packaging the electrophotographic image formingapparatus 50, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 50 ispackaged by the external packaging box 60 with the plurality ofaccessories 30 and the image forming unit 20 disposed thereon making itmore likely that the plurality of accessories 30 and the image formingunit 20 are damaged during transportation. As a result, when theelectrophotographic image forming apparatus 50 is delivered to a userand the user opens the external packaging box 60 having the plurality ofaccessories 30, and the image forming unit 20 on the electrophotographicimage forming apparatus 50, the user may feel anxious about a conditionthe image forming apparatus 50.

A packaging member for a laser printer is disclosed in Japanese PatentPublication No. 2000-33972 (published on Feb. 2, 2000). According to theabove-mentioned Japanese Patent Publication, the packaging member of thelaser printer is composed of a bottom plate placed on a bottom surfaceof the laser printer so that the laser printer is packaged, a top plateplaced on a top surface of the laser printer, and a sheathing casereceiving the two plates. A top surface of the top plate is providedwith a space for loading a part case, cassettes, and a partitioningpellet. Thus, according to the disclosed packaging member for the laserprinter, a user interposes the laser printer between the bottom and topplates, and then loads the part case, the cassettes, and thepartitioning pellet into the space above the top plate. After theloading is completed, loaded angles, the laser printer, etc. are allreceived in the sheathing case, and packaging of the laser printer iscomplete.

According to the Japanese Patent Publication, a plurality of parts areloaded above a main body of the laser printer in order to package thelaser printer. Therefore, a height of the packaged laser printer isincreased by a height of these parts. As a result, when the laserprinter is packaged and transported, various problems may arise. Forexample, packaging and transportation expenses may be increased.Additionally, the packaged laser printer may be difficult to handlebecause of its increased size. Further, in the method for packaging thelaser printer according to the Japanese Patent Publication, the laserprinter is packaged by the sheathing case with a plurality of partsdisposed above the laser printer making it more likely that theplurality of parts may be damaged during transportation. As a result, auser may feel anxious when opening the sheathing case for the firsttime.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present general inventive concept provides an apparatus and methodof packaging an image forming apparatus capable of reducing a packagingsize of the image forming apparatus as a whole.

The present general inventive concept provides an apparatus and methodof packaging an image forming apparatus, having a simple packagingstructure so that a user can feel confident when opening the packagingstructure, because the image forming apparatus is stably securedtherein.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present general inventiveconcept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and,in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned bypractice of the general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present generalinventive concept may be achieved by providing an apparatus to packagean image forming apparatus, the packaging apparatus including a keepingpart to keep an image forming unit disposed in the image formingapparatus, external cushion members to wrap the image forming apparatus,and an external packaging box to package the image forming apparatuswrapped by the external cushion members. The image forming apparatus maybe an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

The apparatus may include a packaging part to package the image formingunit.

Further, the keeping part may have a predetermined size such that theimage forming unit can be kept with the packaging part in the keepingpart.

The packaging part may comprise a sealing bag to seal the image formingunit and a plurality of internal cushion elements to cover the imageforming unit sealed by the sealing bag. The plurality of internalcushion elements buff the image forming unit and internal components ofthe image forming apparatus.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing a method ofpackaging image forming apparatus, the method including providing akeeping part in the image forming apparatus to keep an image formingunit disposed therein, keeping the image forming unit in the keepingpart, wrapping the image forming apparatus in which the image formingunit is disposed with external cushion members, and inserting the imageforming apparatus wrapped with the external cushion members into anexternal packaging box. The image forming apparatus may be anelectrophotographic image forming apparatus.

The method may further include packaging the image forming unit using apackaging part before the image forming unit is kept in the keepingpart.

The image forming unit may be kept in an orientation such that adeveloper outlet is directed upward in the image forming apparatus sothat a developer is prevented from being discharged while the imageforming apparatus is being transported.

Further, the image forming unit may be kept in the keeping part togetherwith accessories associated with the image forming apparatus.

A selected one of the external cushion members may be provided with anaccessory reservoir so that the accessories associated with the imageforming apparatus may be kept therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present generalinventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated fromthe following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventionalelectrophotographic image forming apparatus packaged by a conventionalpackaging apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming unitbeing temporarily kept in an image forming apparatus while the imageforming apparatus is being transported according to an embodiment of thegeneral inventive concept;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the image forming unit ofFIG. 2 coupled in the image forming apparatus while the image formingapparatus is in an operational state;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the image formingapparatus of FIG. 2 packaged by a packaging apparatus according to anembodiment of the present general inventive concept; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the image formingapparatus of FIG. 2 packaged by a packaging apparatus according toanother embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentgeneral inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the likeelements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order toexplain the present general inventive concept by referring to thefigures.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, a packaging apparatus is used to package animage forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 comprises amain body 110 having components of the image forming apparatus 100disposed therein. In particular, an image forming unit 120 includes adeveloper outlet 128, a photo sensitive medium 123, a housing 121, and acartridge mounting portion 122. The image forming apparatus 100 may bean electrophotographic image forming apparatus further comprising atransfer roller 116, a fixing roller 117, a paper feeding roller 115, anexhausting roller 118, an exposure unit 111, a feeding part 112, aphotosensitive medium shaft 113, an inclined rail portion 129, and amain body cover 119. Other components may also be included in the imageforming apparatus 100. According to the present general inventiveconcept the packaging apparatus may include a keeping part 114 to keepthe image forming unit 120 disposed in the image forming apparatus 100,and the keeping part 114 may be removably coupled to the image formingapparatus 100 and is disposed therein. External cushion members 141 and144 wrap the image forming apparatus 100, and an external packaging box160 packages the image forming apparatus 100 wrapped with the externalcushion members 141 and 144.

More specifically, the keeping part 114 may be formed so that it cankeep the image forming unit 120, which is packaged by a packaging part124. The keeping part may be formed between the exposure unit 111 andthe feeding part 112. The packaging part 124 may include various partsto protect the image forming unit 120 from external impacts and foreignmaterials. For instance, the packaging part 124 may include a sealingbag 127 to seal the image forming unit 120 and a plurality of internalcushion elements 125 and 126 to cover the image forming unit 120 sealedby the sealing bag 127. The plurality of internal cushion elements 125and 126 buff the image forming unit 120 kept in the image formingapparatus 100 relative to other internal components of the image formingapparatus 100.

The external cushion members 141 and 144 serve to protect the imageforming apparatus 100 from external impact by cushioning the imageforming apparatus 100. Thus, the external cushion members 141 and 144are made of a material having a predetermined damping force.Specifically, the external cushion members 141 and 144 include an uppercushion member 141 to wrap an upper portion of the image formingapparatus 100 and a lower cushion member 144 to wrap a lower portion ofthe image forming apparatus 100. The external cushion members 141 and144 may be made of cotton, sponge, Styrofoam, etc. Other materials mayalso be used to make the external cushion members 141 and 144. One ofthe external cushion members 141 and 144 (e.g., the upper cushion member141) may be provided with an accessory reservoir 142 as illustrated inFIG. 4 and/or an installation guide reservoir 143 as illustrated in FIG.5. For example, if the accessory reservoir 142 is provided on the uppercushion member 141, various accessories 130 including, for example, apower cable 132 needed to operate the image forming apparatus 100 and/oran installation guide 134 may all be kept in the accessory reservoir142. Alternatively, if the installation guide reservoir 143 is providedon the upper cushion member 141, the installation guide 134 is kept inthe installation guide reservoir 143, and the other various accessories130 including the power cable 132 may be packaged together in thepackaging part 124 with the image forming unit 120.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the external packaging box 160functions to enclose and contain the image forming apparatus 100 as wellas the external cushion members 141 and 144 wrapping the image formingapparatus 100. Hence, the external packaging box 160 may have apredetermined size such that the image forming apparatus 100 wrapped bythe external cushion members 141 and 144 can be inserted therein. Theexternal packaging box 160 may be formed of a material such as paper,plastic, etc. Other materials may also be used to form the externalpackaging box16O.

Hereinafter, a method of packaging the image forming apparatus 100 willbe described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

The keeping part to keep the image forming unit 120 is provided in theimage forming apparatus 100.

Once the keeping part 114 is provided in the image forming apparatus100, the image forming unit 120 is packaged by the packaging part 124including the sealing bag 127 and the plurality of internal cushionelements 125 and 126. The image forming unit 120 may be packaged usingthe packaging part 124 together with or apart from the variousaccessories 130. When the installation guide reservoir 143 is providedon a selected one of the external cushion members 141 and 144, and theinstallation guide 134 is kept in the installation guide reservoir 143,the other accessories 130 may be kept in the packaging part 124 with theimage forming unit 120.

Once the image forming unit 120 is packaged in the packaging part 124,the image forming unit 120 and the packaging part 124 are kept in thekeeping part 114, which is provided in the image forming apparatus 100.While being kept by the keeping part 114 in the image forming apparatus100, the image forming unit 120 may be oriented such that a developeroutlet 128 is directed upward in the image forming apparatus 100. As aresult, a developer of the image forming unit 120 is prevented frombeing discharged even though the packaged image forming apparatus 100may experience unexpected impact during transportation thereof.

Once the image forming unit 120 is packaged by the packaging part 124and disposed in the keeping part 114 in the image forming apparatus 100,the image forming apparatus 100 in which the image forming unit 120 iskept is wrapped with the external cushion members 141 and 144 (i.e., theupper and lower cushion members 141 and 144).

When the image forming apparatus 100 is wrapped by the external cushionmembers 141 and 144, the packaged image forming apparatus 100 isinserted into the external packaging box 160 together with the externalcushion members 141 and 144. Thus, the image forming apparatus 100 isbound together with the external cushion members 141 and 144 and isenclosed by the external packaging box 160. The external packaging box160 may then be closed so that the packaging of the image formingapparatus 100 is complete.

As can seen from the foregoing, since the image forming unit 120 ispackaged by the sealing bag 127 to seal the image forming unit 120 andthe plurality of internal cushion elements 125 and 126 to cover theimage forming unit 120 and then kept in the image forming apparatus 100,it is possible not only to protect the image forming unit 120 fromexternal impact but also to make a size of the packaged image formingapparatus 100 compact. As a result, when the image forming apparatus 100is packaged by the method of packaging the image forming apparatus 100according to the present general inventive concept and then placed onthe market, it is possible to handle the packaged image formingapparatus 100 with ease and, to save transportation expenses due todecrease in package size.

Further, since the image forming unit 120 is kept in the image formingapparatus 100, a height of the packaged image forming apparatus 100 canbe reduced by a height of the image forming unit (“H” of FIG. 1). Thisdecrease in height shifts the center of gravity of the packaged imageforming apparatus 100 downward such that the packaged image formingapparatus 100 can be stably secured during transportation.

In addition, since the image forming unit 120 is kept so as to directthe developer outlet upward in the image forming apparatus 100, thedeveloper contained in the image forming unit 120 is prevented frombeing discharged even though the packaged image forming apparatus 100may experience unexpected impact during transportation thereof.

Furthermore, when the image forming apparatus 100 is delivered to a userand the external packing box 160 is opened for the first time, the usersees the installation guide 134 or the accessories 132 first, becausethe image forming unit 120 is stably secured in the keeping part 114disposed in the image forming apparatus 100. Thus the user may feelconfident that the image forming apparatus 100, and in particular theimage forming unit 120, is in operational condition, because the imageforming unit 120 is stably secured during transportation.

Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept havebeen shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing fromthe principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope ofwhich is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. An apparatus to package an electrophotographic image formingapparatus, comprising: a keeping part to keep an image forming unit inthe electrophotographic image forming apparatus; external cushionmembers to wrap the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; and anexternal packaging box to package the electrophotographic image formingapparatus wrapped by the external cushion members.
 2. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a packaging unit to packagethe image forming unit, wherein the keeping part has a predeterminedsize that enables the image forming unit to be packaged by the packagingunit and kept in the keeping part.
 3. The apparatus according to claim2, wherein the packaging unit comprises a sealing bag to seal the imageforming unit and a plurality of internal cushion elements to cover theimage forming unit sealed by the sealing bag and to buff the imageforming unit and internal components of the electrophotographic imageforming apparatus.
 4. A packaging apparatus to package an imagingforming apparatus, the packaging apparatus comprising: a keeping partdisposed in the image forming apparatus to keep an image forming unithaving a developer therein; one or more external cushion membersdisposed on an outside surface of the image forming apparatus and tocushion the image forming apparatus; and an external packaging box tocontain the image forming apparatus having the one or more externalcushions disposed thereon.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4,further comprising: a packaging part to package the image forming unitsuch that the image forming unit with the packaging part is kept in thekeeping part.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein thepackaging part comprises a sealing bag to seal the image forming unitand one or more internal cushion elements to cushion the image formingunit sealed in the sealing bag.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6,wherein the keeping part has a predetermined size so that the imageforming unit with the packaging part fits therein.
 8. The apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein the one or more internal cushion elementscushion the image forming unit from damaging contact with internalcomponents of the image forming apparatus.
 9. The apparatus according toclaim 5, wherein the packaging part further packages one or moreaccessories associated with the image forming apparatus.
 10. Theapparatus according to claim 4, wherein the one or more external cushionmembers disposed on the outside surface of the image forming apparatusincludes an upper cushion member disposed on an upper surface of theimage forming apparatus and a lower cushion member disposed on a lowersurface of the image forming apparatus.
 11. The apparatus according toclaim 10, wherein the external packaging box has a predetermined size sothat the image forming apparatus with the upper and lower cushionmembers fits into the external packaging box.
 12. The apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein the upper external cushion member includesa space disposed on a top surface of the upper external cushion memberso that one or more accessories associated with the image formingapparatus are stored therein.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 12,wherein the one or more accessories includes at least one of: aninstallation guide and a power cable.
 14. The apparatus according toclaim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus is an electrographic imageforming apparatus.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein thekeeping part orients the image forming unit such that a developer outletof the image forming unit is directed upward and the developer isprevented from leaking when the external packaging box is transported inan upright position.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein thekeeping part is located inside a main body of the image formingapparatus.
 17. A method of packaging an electrophotographic imageforming apparatus, the method comprising: providing a keeping part tokeep an image forming unit in the electrophotographic image formingapparatus; keeping the image forming unit in the keeping part; wrappingthe electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which the imageforming unit is kept with external cushion members; and inserting theelectrophotographic image forming apparatus wrapped with the externalcushion members into an external packaging box.
 18. The method accordingto claim 17, further comprising: packaging the image forming unit usinga packaging part before the image forming unit is kept in the keepingpart.
 19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the image formingunit is kept in an orientation such that a developer outlet of the imageforming unit is directed upward in the electrophotographic image formingapparatus so that a developer is prevented from being discharged whilethe electrophotographic image forming apparatus is being transported.20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the image forming unit iskept in the keeping part together with accessories associated with theelectrophotographic image forming apparatus.
 21. The method according toclaim 17, wherein at least one of the external cushion members isprovided with an accessory reservoir so that accessories associated withthe electrophotographic image forming apparatus are kept therein.
 22. Amethod of packaging an image forming apparatus including an imageforming unit having developer therein, the method comprising: packagingthe image forming unit; providing the packaged image forming unit to akeeping part disposed in a main body of the image forming apparatus;disposing one or more cushion members on an outer surface of the mainbody of the image forming apparatus; and inserting the image formingapparatus with the one or more cushioning elements disposed thereon intoa packaging box.
 23. The method according to claim 22, wherein packagingthe image forming unit further comprises placing the image forming unitin a sealing bag and placing the sealing bag with the image forming unittherein in between one or more internal cushion elements.
 24. The methodaccording to claim 22, wherein packaging the image forming unit furthercomprises packaging the image forming unit with one or more accessoriesin a packaging part to be kept together in the keeping part.
 25. Themethod according to claim 22, wherein providing the packaged imageforming unit to the keeping part further comprises orienting thepackaged image forming unit such that a developer outlet of the imageforming unit is directed upward and the developer is prevented fromleaking when the packaging box is transported in an upright position.26. The method according to claim 25, wherein disposing one or morecushion members on an outer surface of the main body of the imageforming apparatus further comprises disposing an upper cushion member onan upper surface of the main body and disposing a lower cushion memberon a lower surface of the main body
 27. The method according to claim26, further comprising: before inserting the image forming apparatuswith the one or more cushioning elements disposed thereon into thepackaging box, placing one or more accessories associated with the imageforming apparatus into a space disposed on a top surface of the upperexternal cushion member so that the one or more accessories associatedwith the image forming apparatus are stored in the space.
 28. The methodaccording to claim 27, wherein the one or more accessories including atleast one of a guide and a cable.
 29. A package to transport an imageforming apparatus, the package comprising: a packaging box having animage forming apparatus disposed therein and one or more cushioningelements disposed between an outer surface of the image formingapparatus and the packaging box; and a packaging part having an imageforming unit, and disposed in a main body of the image formingapparatus.
 30. The package according to claim 29, wherein the imageforming apparatus comprises a keeping part formed therein, and thepackaging part is kept in the keeping part in the main body of the imageforming apparatus.
 31. The package according to claim 29, wherein theimage forming unit is an electrostatic image forming apparatuscomprising a photosensitive medium on which an electrostatic latentimage is formed and a developer to convert the electrostatic latentimage into a visible image.
 32. The package according to claim 29,wherein the packaging part comprises at least one cushion memberdisposed between the image forming unit and the packaging box to enclosethe image forming unit.
 33. The package according to claim 32, whereinthe packing part comprises a bag disposed between the at least onecushion member and the image forming unit to enclose the image formingunit.
 34. The package according to claim 29, wherein the image formingunit is not disposed between the image forming apparatus and thepackaging box.
 35. The package according to claim 29, wherein the mainbody of the image forming apparatus comprises a paper feeding roller, atransfer roller, a fixing roller, and an exposure unit.
 36. The packageaccording to claim 35, wherein the packaging part is disposed betweenthe exposure unit and the paper feeding part.